A home destroyed by Superstorm Sandy is seen on Cedar Grove Avenue on Staten Island on Thursday, as President Barack Obama tours the area. / AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Written by

Jon Campbell

Albany Bureau

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday unveiled three new commissions tasked with assessing how the state can better prepare for and respond to extreme weather.

The three panels will issue separate reports on issues related to major storms, such as Superstorm Sandy last month and tropical storms Lee and Irene last year, each of which caused substantial amounts of damage in the past 15 months.

“I have charged these three commissions to seriously examine existing systems and present a comprehensive blueprint so we can bring our emergency preparedness and response capabilities into the 21st century,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Each of the panels will tackle a different topic. The NYS 2100 Commission -- headed by Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin and Felix Rohatyn, former chairman of the Municipal Assistance Corporation -- will focus on ways to strengthen and repair the state’s infrastructure.

The NYS Ready Commission will focus on ways to improve the state’s preparations and training for future storms, while the NYS Respond Commission will issue recommendations on reacting to them.

Each of the panels face a January 3 deadline for issuing their reports.

Cuomo’s move comes two days after he appointed a committee to investigate the state’s power utilities and their response to Sandy and other major storms. The committee, established under the state Moreland Act, will have subpoena power and will be able to interview key players under oath.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman also issued subpoenas this week to Consolidated Edison, the utility providing power to much of New York City and Westchester County, as well as the Long Island Power Authority.

President Barack Obama joined Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday for an aerial tour of damage from Sandy in the New York City area.

Cuomo said this week that he will soon formally request $30 billion in federal money to help the state rebuild from the storm. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Obama would have to wait for a firm plan before taking a position on it.

“We can’t comment specifically on that plan, as we haven’t seen it, but the administration continues to provide all available resources to support our state and local partners, as well as affected families,” Carney told reporters.

Speaking on Staten Island, Obama said the government will have to "put some of the turf battles aside” and “make sure that everybody is focused on doing the job.”

“I'll be working with the members of Congress to do everything we can to get the resources needed to rebuild,” Obama said.